Dignity Poem by RIC BASTASA

at par
with you
my equal
in this fight
you are
so gentle

when i
lose the grip of
my sword and it falls
on the ground
you have the courage
to pick it up
for me and tell
me
i need it most now

and then
the point of the sword
now faces
frozen at the eye
of my heart

i stare
coldly and i perspire
to the thought
of my death

at this point
you say
tnanks it is fair
and i look at
you again
at par
shoulder to shoulder
my equal

you let me go
you put your sword
in your scabbard
and take the stride
on your white horse
and leave me

agape my mouth
opens
you are at par
with me
my equal
you have all the chance
to kill me at once

but you didn't
you make me live
now
a new man
a fighter rising from his fall
gentle and
brave as ever
to fight
my own wars.